Cigarette case or the like



Nov. 3, 1931. R. I. RHODES 1,830,372

CIGARETTE CASE OR THE LIKE Filed June 21, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 3, 1931. I R, RHODES 1,830,372

CIGARETTE CASE OR THE LIKE Filed June 21. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 jivenzZo Patented Nov. 3, 1931 I p-. I s-TArss PATENT OFFICE RUSSELL I. RHODES; or NORTH ATT ERoRo, MASSACHUSETTS, AsSIGNOR To THE MASON BOX- COMPANY, or ATTLEBORO FALLS, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION or MAssAcHUsETT r cIGARETTR cAsR on THE LIKE Applicationfiled June 21,

This inven tion "relates'to containers and I pertains more particularly to improvements j in cases for cigarettes or the like. The principal object of the invention is to provide an article of this class comprising a pair of separable sections, preferably hinged to swing together to enclose the contents of the container,each section preferably comprising a v rigid marginal frame and aflexible covering so that the structure exhibits the desirable durability and shape=sustaining characteristics of a metal case, and also possesses certain of the flexible and soft-textured characterlsv tics and advantages of economyin manufacture and lightness in weight of a case made entirely of leather, cloth or other flexible material. p c i A I A recommended embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings,

in which: I I I c I Fig. 1 iS-a planview of a closed case constructed in accordance with the invention,

with portions broken away; 1 v

Fig. 2 is a side elevation'of' the case in'open position;

' a Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken on line -3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a bottom view of the rigid frame; Fi 5 is a fragmentarysection illustrating amodification; Fig. 6 is a bottom view: of a lining frame A employed in a further modification;

Fig. 7 is a top view of the 'coveredlining frame Fig; 8 is a sectional view to reduced scale taken on line 88 of Fig.7; and

Fig. 9 is an enlarged section similar to Fig. 3, but showing the optional form of framed [1min 46 g r The cigarette case chosen for the purpose of illustration comprises a pair of similar sections or compartments 6 suitably hinged as at 7 to swing apart, or to be pressed together and retained in closed POSltlOIlS by a snap catchS or other fastening. The cigarettes -9 may be carried within anenvelope or pocket 10-mounted within the case in any desired manner, or in a pocket located in either or both of the case sections, so that they will be readily available when the case is open 929. Serial no. 372,606.

and will be enclosed therewithin when the sections are snappedtogether. The precise structure and arrangement of thecase hinge or'catch, or of the cigarettepocket is sential to the present invention.

Each of the sections '6 has a narrow marginal frame 11 preferably stamped from a thin sheet of metal or other suitably rigid Q material and transverselydished or bowed, as shown, or otherwise shaped to form a onepiece skeleton structure concavo-convex in cross sect1on,border1ng a central opening 12 and having an inturned margin 13 around 7 its periphery. A padding strip 14 of felt.

applied upon'the surface'of the frame over the opening 312, and a flexible covering 15.-of leather, fabs or other soft fabric is preferably not es- V ric or composition material is superposed on ers the opening 12 on the inner side of the 1 case section and preferably overlaps the edges of the covering. The several sheets may be secured to each other and to the frame 11 by a suitable adhesive or other fastening means,

and the outer surface of the covering may be embossed or otherwise ornamented as desired.

" In the form above described and as shown in' Fig.3, the pad margin terminates short of the outer edge'13 of the frame 11 and the outer covering 15 is folded over said edge, therebyproviding a thin, unyielding base edge which abuts the corresponding base of the complementary section when the caseis closed. The felt pad 14 may, however, lap' over said edge as indicated at 18 inthe modi- :fied structure shown in Fig. 5 to afford a somewhat cushioned surface and protect the covering from wear at the l'ineof fold over the metal edge. In said modification an additional pad or filler 19 may be providedin f1,ss0,372

the opening- 12; between'the pad 14 and the I claim:

a central opening 20, said sides and ends be ing; transversely bowed-r inclined, thereby to furnish a dished framework of a size adapted to lit withinthe case section. The corners of the frame may benotched or re-n cessed as at 21 to allow for suitablebending of its sides and ends, and the outer edges of the ends may have recesses 22' and '23 to accommojdate the hinge and catch members of t a e omp rtm n '2 v The flexible liningpiece 2451 6 applied, upon the zinnerfdished side of-the frame 19; and is preferably folded over the outer edges there- -.of :asat 25, and adhesively secured to the frame, so that the frame andlining may be united as'fa unit Within the covered frame 1;1-,.0fthecase'section. When the parts are thus assembled, as shownlnhig. 9, the covered-edges of, the 'liningframe 19 preferably registerywith the covered edges of the frame 11, thereby providing a case havlng smooth,

' -;unbroken inner and'outer surfaces, flexible at itseentral portion, rigid covered edges: of the lining frjame 19*; preferably register with the-covered edges ofthe frame 11 and the 7 openings 20 and 12-Jof the, respective frames may also register with each other, so that the resulting case section presents smooth,

- unbroken outer and inner coverings, flexible "and yielding ,at their central portions yet rigid at theiryma'rgins, and a substantially i flatan'd' hard compositebase edge. The linzing frame. may be secured within the case compartment by; cementing together the inturned margins of the lining 24 and outer covering-"15 or by other fastening means,

A case constructed in either of the forms above described is simple and economical to manufacture, light in Weight WltllOLlb sacrir'fice of adequate rigidity, compact and attractive in appearance, and well adapted for carrying in the pocket, being rigida's to its essential shape and contour but soft and flexible as to its sides. The relatively .deep compartments afiorded by. the permanently "dishedframesof the compl mentary sections ,provide ample space for cigarettes oriother articles which may be enclosed within the case. Thedepth and yielding coverings of 'the sections obviate crushing of the cigajrettes, and the rigid abutting edges of the vclosed-sections form a firm and secure closureto prevent cigarette tobacco from sifting out of the container; It will be under-;

stood, however,.that structural details may be varied to suit particular purposes Without departing from the essence of this invention 1. In an article of the class described, a case section compr sing a narrow, rigid marginal frame bordering a central opening, and

a covering of fiexiblesheet material extending-across the opening and folded :over the outer edgelof the frame, the frame being formed of thin sheet material and being concavo convex in cross-section. A

25in an article of the :class described, case sectloni comprlslng a narrow, rlgid mar- -inal frame .borderin a central 0 aenin the b :7

frame being formed from a sheet metal blank and being transversely dished on its inner side and rounded on lts outer surface, and a:

covering of-flexible sheet material extending across the opening and 5 folded over, the outer edge of the frame. V .3. In an article "ofthe class described,a

' case section" comprising a narrow, one-piece, q metal frame bordering a central opening, the

outer margins ofthe frame being transverse--v lyidished on its inner sideiand roundedon ts outer surface, a covering of flexibleshe'et material extending over theopening and case; section comprising a rigid,.dished-oi 1ter frame bordering a centraliiopening, an outer covering of flexible sheet material-extending across the opening. and folded over the outer edge of the frame, a rigid, dished inner frame borderinga central-opening, and a flexible lining, applied; to. the inner side of sa1d inner frame over said opening andb'eing folded over the ouieredge of said frame,{the lined inner frame being secured within the covered outer frame; s I

,5. In an article of the class described, a

case section comprising a rigid,dished'-outer frame bordering a central opening, an outer covering of flexible sheet material extending across the opening andfolded over the-outer edge of the frame, a rigid, dished inner frame bordering a central-opening, and-a flexible lining applied tothe' innerside of *said inner frame over'saidopening and being folded over-theouter edge of said frame, the lined inner frame being secured within the covered outer frame, the outer covered'marginsof' the respective frames fitting closely against each other with their outer edges in substantial registration. 7

Q6. In an artlcleoftheflclass'described, a

case section comprising a rigid, dished outer frame bordering a central opening, anouter covering of flexible sheet material extending across the opening and folded over the outer edge of the frame, a rigid, dished inner frame bordering a central opening,jand a'flexible lining'applied to the inner side of said inner frame over said'opening and being folded r over the outer edge of said frame, the lined r inner frame being securedwithin the covered outer frame, the outer covered margins of the respective frames fitting closely against each other with their outer edges in substantial registration and thecentral openings inthe tyvo frames being approximately equal in size. 1 W

' Signed by me at Attleboro Falls, Mass,

Bristol County, this 14th day of June, 1929.

r RUSSELL I. RHODES, 

